Process of mercerizing.



` Patented Apr. 22, |902. W. KLEINEWEFERS. I PROGESSDF MERGEBIZING.

(Application filed Apr. 3.. 1897.)

(No Mo'del.)

. liweuitof UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILHELM nLEINEwEFERs, oF oREFELD, GERMANY, AssIeNoR To THE FIRM oFJoH KLEINEwEFEHs SOHNE, oF oEEFELD, PRIIssIA, GERMANY.

PROCESS oF MERCERlzINo.

srEcIFIeATloNrforming part of Letters Patent No. 698,026, dated April 22, 1902, Application led April 3, 1897. Serial No. 630,637. (No specimens.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILHELM KLEINEWE- FERs, a subject of the King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany, residing at Crefeld, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes for Mercerizing Cottonin the Form of Hanks, of which the following is a specication.

This invention has reference to a process by means of which it is possible to avoid the shrinkage of the bers during the merceriza-l tion process of cotton and other vegetable bers, and it is intended to obviate the difculties of the processes heretofore in use where the ber is either ymercerized under tension or is subsequently stretched by mechanical means in order to restore the ber to its original length, Such treatment always weakens the ber and often ruptures it. All these difficulties are avoided in myinvention by loosely supporting the bers in a distended condition and subjecting them to the action of centrifugal force during the various stages of the process, which action by well-known natural principles tends to lengthen the ber,

and thereby balances the effects of mercerization, tending to produce atension in a direction opposite to that of the centrifugal force.

Thus, properly speaking, in my inventionthe ber is not subjected to any stretching or strain whatsoever in consequence of the bal-v ancing effect of these two forces upon the body of the ber, which prevents any essential contraction of the same.

ForI carrying my invention into effect VI have found it preferable to use the device represented in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is part elevation, part section, of the device in a preferred form'of construction Fig. 2 illustrating the admission of liquid.

The apparatus, the reel vA of which of any optional width, carries la large number of cotton hanks arranged one beside the other, so

that the'threads form a loosen-tight covering, may be rotated by the shaft B, suitably journaled in the stationary casing D. This casingis so constructed as to lprevent the accumulation of any l considerable quantities of liquid, which may be continuously drained off during the process by any suitable meansa stop-cock or overflow, for instance. (Not shown in the drawings.) yFor introducing the liquidinto the interior of the reel A, I may l have shown separate pipes C and C2 for the introduction of the alkaline liquor and of the washing liquid, either of which by means of a suitable stop-cock may be connected to the admission-pipe C.

It is a very essential feature of my invention that the bers, preferably in the form of tops or slivers in a loose and distended condip tion, are kept loosely supported upon the reel, While the liquid is forced through them in but one -direction from the interior tothe outside of the bers, so as to eliminate any causes which could effect their free extension and the action of centrifugal force. The tops or slivers of cotton,` any number of which may be loosely arranged side by side upon the reel, are kept in rotation at a rather considerable speed during the whole duration of the process and the subsequent washing and drying ofthe bers. n

The rate of rotation may be so regulated that no appreciable shrinkage can take place,

'the bers remaining loosely supported on the V While avoiding the shrinkage of bers dur.-

ing mercerization, my process presents the further 'advantage that the handling ofthe 1 ber subjected to the treatment is greatly fa= cilitated, the workmen not comingin contact with the vstronglye, inasmuch as when the process is nished and "the rotation disconn tinued, the excess of alkaline liquor` has been removed from the bers,and`the same are still in a loose and distended condition so thatv they may be easily removed from the reel.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

I. The method herein described of mercer izing cotton ber which consists in loosely supporting the bers and imparting such a swift rotary movement thereto during the process of mercerizatiou and Washing as wiil prevent the longitudinal shrinkage of the material while causing the mercerizing liquid to pass through the ber from the interior thereof iu one direction,and subsequently Washing the ber during rotation.

2. The method herein described of mercerizing cotton ber, which consists in loosely supporting the bers to be treated, imparting a swift rotary movement to the bers that will overcome the tendency to shrink While forcing the lnercerizing liquor in one direction through the supported bers during such 

